Door latch



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,528

w. R. SCHLAGE noon LATCH Filed March 1926 2 Sheets-$heet 1 INVENTORJ Nov. 13, 1928; 1,691,528

W. R. SCHLAGE DOOR LATCH Filed March 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mlw M f ATTORY EYS.

IN VEN TOR.

Patented. Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs.

WALTER RTSCHLAGE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO SCHLAGE LOCK COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

DOOR LATCH.

Application filed. March 6, 1926.- Serial 'No. 92,703.

This invention relates to door latches and especially to improvements over the structure shown in Patent Number 1,489,675, issued-to me April 8th, 1924.

The patent referred to shows a form of door latch which is actuated by an inner and an outer door knob and a push button carried by the inner knob which actuates a mechanism whereby the door knob is locked against rotation.

The present application also shows a form of door latch which is actuated by an inner 1 and an outer knob. A push button is carried by the inner knob, but it serves anotherfunction, that is, it does not lock the outer knob against rotation, but,'conversely releases the knob so that it may be freely rotated without actuating the latch mechamsm.

To fully describe the general latch structure and particularly, the mechanism whereby the outer knob is released, reference will be made to the accompanying drawin s in which Fig, 1 is a horizontal section of the latch showing its position in the door.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the latch mechanismpartly broken away and partly in section, the push button being in this instance depressed to release the outer knob.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Figs. 1 and 2, the knob spindles being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line 4--4.-

, is a cross-section taken on 'line 5-5 Fig. 1, but showing the retractor in retracted position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inner knob spindle. I

\ Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the retractor. x

Fig.- 8 is a perspective view of the retractor guide. v

Fig. '9 is a perspective view of the telescoping section of the outer knob spindle.

Fig. 10 is a pers ective view of the push button and the pus er bar carried thereby.

The general latch structure shown in the drawings in this application is fully disclosed and described in my copendin application entitled Door lock filed 1923, Serial Number 656,835,.but a brief description of the latch-structure is nevertheless thought necessary in order that the push button and the releasingmechanism actuated thereby, which forms the subject matter of this application, may be fully understood.

It'mlght be stated that the latch structure-here illustrated consists of a bolt unit generally indicated at A and a bolt actuating unit generally indicated at B, see Figs. 1, 4 and 5. The unit B is contained in a cupshaped housing generally indicated at 2, and the unit A is contained in a cylindricalshaped elongated housing generally indicated at 3. The unit A contains a bolt 4 to which is attached a retractor bar or plate 5, see Figs. 4 and 5, The end of this plate is provided with lu s 6 and these are engaged by a pair of fingers 7 which form a part of a retractor generally shown in F ig. 7 The retractor is held within the cupshaped housing 2 and is actuated therein by a retractor guide,'the general structure of which is shown in Fig. 8; In other words, the housing 2 contains a retractor guide such'as shown in Fig. 8 and a retractor such as shown in Fig. 7 and means are employed for imparting a reciprocal movement to the retractor so that the fingers 7 carried thereby may impart a reciprocal movement'to the retractor plate 5 and the bolt 4 carried thereby.

The reciprocal movement is imparted to the retractor b means of a pair of spindle members whic are substantially identical in construction, one of the spindles being shown in perspective in Fig. 6. This particular spindle will hereinafter be referred to as the inner spindle. The two spindles are otherwise clearly shown in Fig. l and the spindles are indicated by the numerals 8 and 9. The spindles are cylindrically shaped as shown in Figs, 1 and 6 and their inner ends are provided with retractor lugs generally indicated at 1'0 and 11. The inner spindle carries a knob indicated at 12 and the outer spindle a knob which is indicated at 13. Both spindles project into the cupend in an extension 17 ormin outer spindle is similarly journalled at its inner end in the housin 2 and at its outer part of an escutcheon plate 18. The km) s are keyed or otherwise secured to their respective spindles and as such impart a rotating movement to the spindles when the knobs are grasped and turned. The spindles are separated with relation to each other so that either knob may be grasped and rotated independently of the other. Rotation of either spindle through means of their knobs causes t e retracting lugs 10 or 11 to engage the plate 14 on the retractor and as such forces it inwardly within the retractor guide shown in Fig. 8 against the tension of the spring 19.

The fingers 7 onthe outer end ofthe retractor are in engagement with the lugs 6 of the retractor plate 5 andthe bolt 4 is thus retracted by 'rotation'of eitherspindle, the door being opened by rotating either knob so as to retract the retractor and the bolt, and the door is closedv by merely releaslng either knob as they are returned to a normal latching position .by means of a spring 19 and a second spring20 mounted in the housing 3 and enga ing the inner end of the bolt 4. These springs are placed under tension when the retractor and bolt are retracted and this tension is depended upon to restore the parts to normal position. In other words, the door is automaticall latched by projection of the bolt 4 throug meansof the springs 19 and-20.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a mechanismwhereby the outer knob and spindle may be rendered inoperative. This is accomplished asfollows: The outer spindle 9, as previously-stated, is

substantially identical in construction to the inner spindle 8. That is, it is cylindrical in cross-section and elongated. Mounted within the inner end of the spindle 9 is a cylindrical telescoping section 21, see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9. The inner end of thls telescoping section is closed by an end late 22 and it carries the retractor lug 11. key or lu member 23 is secured on the telescoping cy indrical section 21 and thiskey projects into a slot 24 formed on the inner end of the spindle 9, the key formin a connection between the member 21 an the spindle, which insures rotation of the two members in unison when turning movement is imparted to the knob '13.

Secured to the end opposite the retracting lug 11 isa yoke 25. Secured within the spindle 9 is a plate 26' and interposed between the plate 26 and the plate 22 is a spring 27. This spring is held in central position by an annular projection 28 on plate 26 and also by the yoke member 25.- The function of the spring is that of maintaining the member 21 in projected position where the retracting lug 11 plate 22 on .the side will engage the plate- 14 on the retractor. The member 21 will hereinafter be referred to as the telescoping spindle section as it is telescoped within the spindle 9 a sufficient distance to bring the retracting lug 11 out of engagement with the plate 14 when it is lug 11 cannot engage the plate 14 on the retractor. In this position it is possible to freely rotate the knob 13 and the spindle 9 in either direction without retracting the retractor or the bolt 4 actuated thereby. In other words .the latch is in this instance rendered inoperative not by locking the outer knob and spindleagainst rotation as described in my Patent Number 1,489,675 previously referred to, but by releasing the outer knob and spindle so that it may freely rotate without retracting the retract'or and the: bolt. This is accomplished as follows. The inner knob 12 is rovided with a central opening 30 in whic is' mounted a push button 31. Attached to the push button is a pusher bar 32. This bar extends through the retractor and the retractor guide and it also extends through aformed in the plate 22 of the telescoping spindle section. The outermost end oftlie pusher bar engages the bottom of the yoke 25 when the button 31 is depressed asshown in Fig. 2. The telescoping spindle section.

central perforation is forced inwardly within the s indle 9 to i gagement with the plate 14 on the retractor,

but when the push button is released or projected the telescoping spindle section is auto.- 'matically projected by. the spring 27 and lug 11 is then in a position where it will engage the plate 14 on the retractor. It is, therefore, obvious that the door is locked by merely depressing the push button 31 as such depression moves lug 11 out of engagement with the plate 14 on the retractor thereby rendering the outer knob and spindle inoperative. Thus it may freely rotatein either one direction or another without releasing the bolt 4 and the door is therefore locked from the exterior, but projection of the push button and the telescoping. spindle section renders the latch operative from the outside as rotation of the knob and spindle '31 causes the cam face of the latch 33 to engage the retractor and to force it inwardly against the tension of the spring 19. The latch thus passes in under the retractor and the retractor immediately moves back into place when the end of the latch 33 passes the retractor as shown in Fig. 2. The retractor thus engages the inner shoulder of the latch 33 and locks the pusher bar and push button when in a depressed position thereby retaining the telescoping spindle section in depressed or released position. The door remains locked from the exterior as long as the push button is depressed as anyone trying to enter from the out-side can only rotate the knob and such rotation will in no manner affect the retracting mechanism or the bolt. A person on the inside, may, however, unlock the door by merel rotating the inner knob 12. Such rotation causes the retracting lug 10 to engage the plate 14 on the retractor and such engagement forces the retractor inwardly against the tension of the spring 19 and that portion of the retractor which engages the rear shoulder of the latch 33 is thus forced inwardly to release the latch.

' The pusherbar when released is automatically restored to, theposition shown in Fig. 1 where the push button is'extended as the inner end of the pusher bar is engaged by the yoke carriedby the telescoping spindle section. This in turn isprojected to operating position by the spring 27 and it accordingly restores the pusher bar to normal released position It ls accordingly apparent that the door is locked by merely depressing the push button 31 and that it can only be released from the interior and by rotation of the inner knob. Rotation of the outer knob when the button is in depressed position is of no avail as the telescoping spindle section is depressed and as such can have no effect on the retracting mechanism.

While certain features of the telescoping spindle section and the mechanism actuate ing the same are more or less specifically illustrated I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention what the retractor.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a latch of the character described, a housing, a bolt mounted therein, an inner and an outer knob journalled in the housing, means actuatedby each knob whereby the bolt may be retracted and means carried by the inner knob whereby the outer knob and bolt actuating mechanism is released so as to be free to rotate without retracting the bOlf'..,

2. In a'latch of the character described, a housing, a bolt mounted therein, an inner and an outer knob journalled in the housing,'means connected with the outer knob whereby the bolt is retracted, means connected with the inner knob whereby the bolt is retracted and means carried by the inner knob whereby the outer knob and the connected bolt retracting mechanism is released to prevent retraction of the bolt. i

3. In a latch of the character described, a

housing, a bolt mounted therein, an inner and-an outer knob journalled in the housing, means actuated by either knob whereby the bolt may be retractedand means carried by the inner knob whereby the outer knob' and connected bolt retracting mechanism is released to prevent retraction of the bolt.

4. In a latch of the character described, a

housing, a bolt mounted therein, a. retractor connected with the bolt, an inner and an.

outer spindle, alug on each spindle engageable to actuate the retractor and connected bolt and means carried by the inner spindle whereby the lug on the outer spindle may be displaced to 5. In alatch of the character described, a housing, a bolt mounted therein, a retractorconnected with the bolt, an inner and an outer spindle, a lug on the inner spindle prevent engagement. with engageable with the'retractor, a telescoping I "spindle in the outer spindle, a lug on the telesoping spindle also engageable with the retractor, and means for longitudinally displacing the telescoping spindle and its lug to prevent engagement with the retractor.

'6. In a bolt of the character described, a

housing, a bolt mounted therein, a retractor connected with the bolt, an inner and an outer spindle, :1 lug on the inner spindle engageable with the retractor, a telescoping spindle in the outer spindle, a lug on the telescoping spindle also engageable with the retractor, and means carried by the inner knob for displacing the telescoping spindle and lug to prevent engagement of the lug with the retractor.

7. In a latch of the character described, a housing, a bolt mounted therein, an inner and an outer spindle, a knob on each spindle for imparting a, rotating movement thereto, a bolt actuating member on each spindle, a

. retractor, a lug mounted for telescoping movement on the outer spindle, a push button in the inner spindle and a pusher bar connected with the button and engageable with the telescoping lug to move it out of engagement with the retractor.

9. In a latch of the character described, a housing, a bolt mounted therein, a retractor connected with the bolt, an inner and an outer spindle, a knob on each spindle for imparting a rotating movement thereto, a lug on the inner spindle engageable with the retractor, a lug mounted for telescoping movement on the outer spindle, a push button in the inner spindle a pusher bar connected with,the button and engageable with the telescoping lug to move it out of engagement with the retractor, and means for retaining the push button and the pusher bar when the lug and the outer spindle have been moved to a position out of engagement with the retractor.

10. In. a' latch of the character described, a housing, a bolt mounted therein, a retractor connected with the bolt, an inner and an outer spindle, a knob on each spindle for imparting a rotating movement thereto, a lug on the inner spindle engageable with the retractor, a lug mounted for telescoping movement on the outer spindle, a push button, in the inner spindle, a pusher bar connected with the button and engageable with the telescoping lug to move it out of engagement with the retractor, means for retaining the push button and the pusher bar when the lug on the outer spindle has been moved to a position out of engagement with the retraetoigand means actuated by rotation of the inner knob for releasing the push button and pusher bar to permit return of the lug and engagement thereof with the retractor.

11. In a door latch a spindle consisting of two sections each turnable independently of the other, a bolt, means on each spindle actuated by rotation -of the spindles for re-- tracting the bolt, and means on one spindle for moving the opposite spindle longitudinally so that it may be freely rotated without retracting the bolt.-

13. .In a door latch a spindle consistingof two sections each turnable independently of the other, a bolt, means on each spindle actuated by rotation of the spindles'for re- I tracting the bolt, and means on one spindle for moving the opposite spindle longitudinally so that it may be freely rotated Without retracting the bolt and means actuated'by rotation of the other spindle for automatically restoring the longitudinally movable spindle to operative position.

14. In a latch mechanism of the character described, an inner and outer knob, a bolt adapted to be retracted thereby, means carried by the inner knob to release the outer knob so as to permit it to freely rotate with-- out retracting the bolt, and means actuated by turning movement of the inner knob for automatically restoring the outer knob to operative position.

15. Ina latch mechanism of the character described, a'rotary spindle, a second spindle longitudinally movable and also capable of being rotated, a bolt, means on each spindle for retracting the bolt and means carried by the first named spindle for moving the second named spindle longitudinally to a posi-.

tion where it may freely rotate without actuating the bolt.

16. In a latch mechanism of the character described, a rotary spindle, a second spindle being rotated, a bolt, means on each spindle longitudinally'movable'and also capable of for retracting the bolt, means carried by the first named spindle formoving the second named spindle longitudinally to a position.

where it may freely rotate without actuating the bolt, and means actuated by rotation of the first named spindle for automatically re storing the second named spindle to opera tive position so that the bolt will be retracted upon rotation of the second named spindle.

17. In a latch mechanism of the character described, a tubular spindle, an inner knob mounted. thereon, an outer knob, a. bolt, means actuated by rotation of either knob for retracting the belt, apush button een-.

trally disposed in the inner knob, and meansconnected with the push button andextending through the tubular spindle and adapted upon depression of the button to release the outer knob so as to permitit to freely rotate without restricting the bolt.-

18. In a, latch mechanism of the character deseribed, an inner and an outer knob, a bolt adapted to be retracted by rotation of either knob, a push button eentrally disposed 5 in'the inner knob, said push button when depressed adapted to release the outer knob so as to permit it to freely rotate without retracting the bolt, and means actuated by a turnin movement of the inner knob for automatica 1y restorin the push button to normal position and t e outer knob to an operative position.

WALTER R. soHLAeEI 

